Collapsible privacy system

ABSTRACT

A privacy system is provided. The privacy system may include a central support member, a privacy fabric and a privacy door. The privacy fabric may surround and attach to the central support member. The central support member and the privacy fabric may each comprise an opening. The openings may align forming an entrance to the privacy system. A user may step inside the privacy system through the entrance. Therein, the user may releasably attach the privacy door to the privacy fabric, thereby ensuring privacy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable privacy systems and, more particularly, to a collapsible system that affords users privacy in public areas.

Taking children to public areas, such as beaches, pools, parks and the like may call for situations where privacy is essential yet not afforded by the public area. Currently, there are only makeshift solutions for obtaining the on-the-spot privacy needed in such situation, for example, holding up towels around someone changing their clothes. The alternative is traveling to the nearest sanitary restroom or to one's vehicle.

As can be seen, there is a need for a portable privacy system that immediately affords users privacy in public areas, wherever they are, and that is also convenient to transport and store when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention,

In another aspect of the present invention,

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view demonstrating collapse and expansion of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view demonstrating expansion of an exemplary embodiment of a central support member of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view demonstrating collapse of an exemplary embodiment of the central support member of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows various views of an exemplary embodiment of a hook-clip of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows various views of an exemplary embodiment of the hook-clip of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows various views of an exemplary embodiment of the hook-clip of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows various views of an exemplary embodiment of the hook-clip of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 shows various views of an exemplary embodiment of the hook-clip of the present invention, showing the pivoting motion thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a privacy system. The privacy system may include a central support member, a privacy fabric and a privacy door. The privacy fabric may surround and attach to the central support member. The central support member and the privacy fabric may each comprise an opening. The openings may align forming an entrance to the privacy system. A user may vertically orient the privacy system and then step inside the privacy system through the entrance. Therein, the user may releasably attach the privacy door to the privacy fabric, thereby ensuring privacy.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a privacy system 100. The privacy system 100 may include a top end ring 2, a bottom end ring 4, a central support member 10, a privacy fabric 20, a privacy door 30, a bottom mesh 40 and a hook-clip 50.

The top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4 may be a circular or a semi-circular rings made of a material which can be repeatedly bent and straightened out without fracturing. The top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4 may form openings of sufficient size to circumscribe a user. The top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4 may have a substantially identical radius and be disposed in parallel planes along a shared axis. The central support member 10 generally achieves a helically coil shape as it traverses from the bottom the top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4.

The central support member 10 may include at least one elastic spring 16 interconnecting the top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4. The central support member 10 may be helically coiled in shape with the top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4 biased in spaced apart relation by at least one elastic spring 16. The at least one elastic spring 16 may be made of a springy material capable of allowing the central support member 10 to maintain its coiled shape. The at least one elastic spring 16 may be helically coiled in shape that revolves about the shared axis. The at least one elastic spring 16 may connect to top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4 so that the central support member 10 may contract or collapse, as seen in FIG. 3. The at least one elastic spring 16 may not revolve about the shared axis by more than three-quarters revolution so that the central support member 10 may form a support opening 27.

In certain embodiments, the central support member 10 may further include at least one rib 12 disposed in parallel planes about the shared axis. The at least one rib 12 may have two planar sides 18. The at least one rib 12 may be of circular or semi-circular shape having an substantially identical radius as the top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4. The at least one rib 12 may be made of a material which can be repeatedly bent and retain its original shape without fracturing. In such embodiments, the at least one elastic spring 16 biases the top end ring 2 to the at least one rib 12 biased in spaced apart relation. The at least one elastic spring 16 interconnects the bottom end ring 4 to the at least one rib 12. The at least one elastic spring 16 connections to the two planar sides 18 may be configured so that the central support member 10 may contract or collapse, as seen in FIG. 3.

The privacy fabric 20 may include a sheet having an interior surface 22 and an outer surface 28. The privacy fabric 20 may be made of opaque, collapsible material, such as nylon and the like. The privacy fabric may surround the central support member 10 to define a privacy space. In certain embodiments, the central support member 10 may attach to the interior surface 22 at predetermined locations.

In an alternate embodiment, the privacy fabric 20 may be two sheets of material sewn together forming a sleeve. In such embodiment, the central support member 10 may pass through the center of the two-sheet privacy fabric 20 sleeve.

The privacy fabric 20 may include an opening 29. The support opening 27 and the privacy fabric opening 29 may align forming an entrance 25 to the privacy system 100. In certain embodiments, the privacy fabric 20 may have a slit. The slit may run from near the top end ring 2 and the bottom end ring 4. The slit may be disposed near the support opening 27 so as to facilitate access tot eh privacy space.

The privacy door 30 may be releasably attached to the interior surface 22 and/or the outer surface 28 along the entrance 25 by door fasteners 24. The door fasteners 24 may be any fastener known in the art for fastening or removably securing one object to another including, for example, standard push-button snaps, Velcro-type fasteners, adhesive substances, combinations thereof, and the like.

The bottom mesh 40 may be made of material with an open weave, netting type structure and the like sufficient to allow sand and dirt to pass through the mesh openings. The bottom mesh 40 may be attached to the bottom end ring 4.

The hook-clip 50 may include a clamp 52, a handle 54 and a hook 56. The clamp 52 may releasably attach to the top end ring 2. The handle 54 may pivotally connected to the clamp 52. The hook 56 may be of sufficient size and strength to hang desired items from.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The privacy system 100 disclosed above may be provided. A user may vertically orient the privacy system 100 and step inside the privacy system 100 through the entrance 25. Therein, the user may releasably attach the door fasteners 24 to secure the privacy door 30 over the entrance 25. The user may then hang a plurality of items 57 on the hook 56. After exiting the privacy system 100, the user may allow sand, dirt, debris and the like to be directed out of the privacy system 100 by way of the bottom mesh 40. Then the user may collapse the privacy system 100 to store in a carrying case 26.

In certain embodiments, the entrance 25 may be accessed by another individual to assist the user in the privacy system 100.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A privacy system comprising: a collapsible privacy fabric comprising an opaque material forming a tube having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the privacy fabric includes a slit running from the top end to the bottom end; and a collapsible central support member comprising a top end ring and a bottom end ring biased in spaced apart relation by an at least one elastic spring, wherein the at least one elastic spring connection to the top end ring and to the bottom end ring is configured to enable the central support member to contract, wherein the central support member is positioned to run from substantially the top end to substantially to the bottom end, wherein the top end ring is positioned within the top end and the bottom end ring is positioned within the bottom end, and wherein the privacy fabric is connected at predetermined locations to the central support member, wherein the central support member forms a support opening, and wherein the slit is disposed within the perimeter of the support opening.
 2. The privacy system of claim 1, wherein the slit forms a fabric opening having a perimeter, wherein the fabric opening and the support opening align forming an entrance.
 3. The privacy system of claim 2, further comprising a privacy door removably connected to the privacy fabric along the perimeter of the fabric opening, wherein the privacy fabric surrounds and is connected to the central support member,
 4. The privacy system of claim 1, wherein the central support member further comprising at least one rib element between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the at least one rib element is surrounded by and connected to the privacy fabric.
 5. The privacy system of claim 4, further comprising a hook-clip releasably connected to the top end, wherein the hook-clip is configured to hold personal effects.
 6. The privacy system of claim 4, further comprising a bottom mesh attached to the bottom end.
 7. The privacy system of claim 2, wherein the privacy fabric comprises two sheets of opaque material each comprising a plurality of edges, wherein the plurality of edges of the two sheets are connected so that the privacy fabric sandwiches the central support member.
 8. A method of obtaining privacy in a public area comprising: providing a privacy system comprising a collapsible privacy fabric comprising an opaque material forming a tube having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the collapsible privacy fabric forms a fabric opening having a perimeter; a collapsible central support member comprising a top end ring and a bottom end ring biased in spaced apart relation by an at least one elastic spring, wherein the at least one elastic spring connection to the top end ring and to the bottom end ring is configured to enable the central support member to contract, wherein the central support member is positioned to run from substantially the top end to substantially to the bottom end, wherein the top end ring is positioned within the top end and the bottom end ring is positioned within the bottom end, and wherein the privacy fabric is connected at predetermined locations to the central support member, wherein the central support member forms a support opening, and wherein the slit is disposed within the perimeter of the support opening; expanding the privacy system vertically with the bottom end on the ground; and stepping inside the privacy system through the entrance.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the privacy system further comprises at least one rib element between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the at least one rib element is surrounded by and connected to the privacy fabric.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: providing a hook-clip releasably connected to the top end, wherein the hook-clip is configured to hold personal effects; and holding personal effects on the hook-clip. 